Rich in history and legendary, the Fleur de Lis is one of the most recognized symbols across the world. Representing either a lily, or an iris, its motif comes to us from a distant past and to this day still remains a mystery as to its origins.

So, what does it symbolize? Essentially it is a stylized flower that over time has been associated with royalty. Representing elegance and class, this enduring emblem has been used as a decorative element on shirts, jewelry and even objects for Home Décor.

Where does it all begin and how is the symbol being used?

Monarchy and Heraldry

While the Fleur de Lis has appeared on numerous flags and European coats of arms over the centuries, it is mostly associated with the French monarchy. Used as a dynastic emblem, the Fleur de Lis goes as far back as the 12th century and was also adopted by noble families like the royal House of Bourbon.

The symbol is also featured prominently with other European monarchs and rulers such as in the Crown Jewels of England and Scotland where it has been a prominent part of the design of the Scottish royal arms and Royal Standard since James 1 of Scotland.

Across the world

What does the emblem symbolize to different countries across the world? Some interesting fleur de lis facts include these bits of history. As French settlers moved to the New World, the emblem soon became associated with areas such as Quebec and Nova Scotia in Canada and south of the border in Louisiana, Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans in the United States.

This symbol has also been used in less traditional ways! After Hurricane Katrina several New Orleanians of different ages and backgrounds were tattooed with the french motif as one of its cultural emblems and as a memorial of the storm.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal signed on July 09, 2008, a bill into law making the Fleur de Lis the official symbol of Louisiana. It is also widely used in New Orleans as an emblem of grassroots support for New Orleans’ recovery. This holds a special place in the heart of New Orleans.

Modern Customs

Often by design, the Fleur de Lis is still used to this day and represents the ongoing presence of heraldry in our everyday lives. In such a context what does the Fleur de Lis symbolize as different organizations are still using this emblem?

Example, the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps situated in Madison, WI, have the emblem as their official logo, with members and past members sporting signature Fleur de Lis tattoos!

It also appears as a logo for different sports teams, as with the Fiorentina soccer team, the New Orleans Saints football team, the New Orleans Hornets basketball team, and last but not least, the former Quebec Nordiques National Hockey Leagues team.

Another Fleur de Lis is fact is that it is also featured on military badges like those of the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and the Corps of Cadet at the Louisiana State University.

Julie Parker-Hall is the President of Sales and Marketing for [http://www.fleurdelisfashions.com], an online ladies boutique. As a resident of the City of New Orleans, Mrs. Hall has a deep love for the fleur de lis symbol, the citizens New Orleans, and the rebuilding process. Mrs. Hall is excited to be leading a team of professionals in the only store on the web dedicated entirely to the fleur de lis.

Iron has been used mainly as a construction material due to its strength and malleability.

But aside from that, it has also been used as a decorative material. For many years, iron has been formed as dividers for homes that aim to have a Victorian theme. It has been used as iron grilles that give windows both a character and a measure for security. In many houses with large grassy lawns, you can see iron wrought furniture that invites everyone to sit on them and have a pleasant afternoon tea party.

Iron can also be used to form symbols and emblems. One of the most common is fleur de lis. It is French for “lily flower.” It is a stylized design that is shaped like an iris or a lily. In the old days, the design was used as a symbol, especially in heraldry. It was also political in nature, symbolizing the political and dynastic affinity of the French nobility. The fleur de lis has appeared on European coats of arms, flags, and tapestries. It has been widely accepted as the symbol of France although it imprinted in stamps was not recognized by French republics.

Because it was such a powerful symbol, the fleur de lis was used in areas that were previously settled by France including Quebec, Louisiana, and in other provinces in Canada.

Today, the fleur de lis is mostly decorative except with the Spanish monarchy and the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg where it is still treated as a political symbol. It has also been used by architects or designers, whether alone-as a fleur de lis wall décor, for example-or as a repeated motif in ironwork and book covers, especially if a French context is being implied.

The usage of the fleur de lis today stems from the desire, conscious or unconscious, to preserve the notion and the presence of heraldry in a modern and technological world that is so utterly different from that hundreds of years ago.

The fleur de lis is also used in the military. For example, the First World Canadian Expeditionary Force and the Israeli Intelligence Corps all use the symbol on their badges. It is also used as a symbol for sports teams such as the Quebec Nordiques National Hockey League, the New Orleans Saints football team, the Fiorentina soccer team, and the New Orleans Hornets basketball team.

Universities such as the Saint Louis University and Washington University in Missouri and the University of Louisiana in Lafayette also make use of the fleur de lis in their logos and coats of arms. Companies such as the Royal Elastics shoe company also incorporate it into their logo.

The fleur de lis can also be used not in a traditional sense. For example, the US Navy aerial acrobatic team the Blue Angels developed a superb looping flight formation named after the symbol. It was used as a memorial symbol after Hurricane Katrina swept over New Orleans.

Most Louisianans are all too familiar with the fleur de lis-the three-leaf symbol adorns the flags of several cities throughout the state and even appears in the logo of the state’s beloved football team, the New Orleans Saints. Decoratively, the French symbol-the translation for which is “lily flower”-can be found on everything from t-shirts, tattoos and wall hangings to bumper stickers, baby clothes and Christmas ornaments.

It has become an emblem of local pride and was even made the official symbol of Louisiana by Governor Bobby Jindal in 2008. But while the fleur de lis is such a prevalent fixture throughout the entire region, many people still might not know its history.

The decorative symbol is historically associated with the French monarchy, which ruled the French kingdom from 486 to 1870, and whose coat of arms featured various golden fleurs de lis on a royal blue background. According to French historians, the symbol’s three distinct leaves represent the medieval social classes: those who worked, those who fought and those who prayed.

The lily flower made its way across the Atlantic with the French settlers who planted their roots along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The symbol served as a reminder of home to the settlers, and as a mark of allegiance to their native country. Today, the royal flower can be found on the flag or seal of several cities in the areas along the Mississippi and Missour rivers, including St. Louis, Missouri, Louisville, Kentucky, Detroit, Michigan, and of course in Louisiana towns such as New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

In New Orleans, specifically, the fleur de lis took on a special meaning after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Since then, the symbol is more than a statement of local pride, it is a symbol of solidarity, community support and commitment to a full recovery.

Given its simple lines and its royal connotations, the fleur de lis has been adopted by many people and organizations not associated with the original French settlers. For instance, the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels named a looping flight demonstration maneuver after the flower, the emblem of Chevrolet’s Corvette and Caprice features the lily flower, and Campbell’s Soup displays the emblem on its soup can labels.